As detailed in a PokerNews piece published just days ago, the $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em event has seen a steep decline in numbers since debuting in 2008. This year, just 128 runners took their shots, the lowest number yet and considerably behind last year's 160.

After 10 levels of play, 64 players bagged up. Josh Arieh emerged with the best chip count, running his 30,000 starting stack up to 168,900. Arieh, who has more than $4 million in tournament cashes, is seeking his third bracelet.

Shaun Deeb (154,200), Davidi Kitai (122,400), Jason Koon (99,600), Connor Drinan (99,400), Scott Seiver (71,500), David Peters (69,600), George Danzer (69,600), Antonio Esfandiari (47,500), Daniel Negreanu (40,000), and defending champ Alex Bilokur (27,000) were some of the names making it through.

Deeb got his big stack rolling early on when he eliminated Bart Hanson on the right side of an aces-versus-kings confrontation just moments after Hanson took his seat. Doug Polk, newly crowned heads-up champion Keith Lehr, Eugene Katchalov, Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi, and Joe Kuether joined Hanson on the rail during the course of play.

Things resume at 2 p.m. on Friday for another 10-level day.